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Ag

Silver

Atomic number: 47Mass: 107.868 uCategory: Transition Metal

About Silver

Silver is a soft, white lustrous metal that has the highest electrical conductivity, the highest thermal conductivity, and the highest reflectivity of any metal. It has been valued as a precious metal for millennia.

Properties

Period
5
Group
11
Block
D
Category
Transition Metal
Electronegativity
1.93 (Pauling)
Ionization Energy
731 kJ/mol
Melting Point
1235 K (962°C)
Boiling Point
2435 K (2162°C)
Density
10.49 g/cm³
Oxidation States
+1

Electron Configuration

1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁶ 3d¹⁰ 4s² 4p⁶ 4d¹⁰ 5s¹
[Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s¹
Shell 1:2e⁻
Shell 2:8e⁻
Shell 3:18e⁻
Shell 4:18e⁻
Shell 5:1e⁻

Real-World Uses

Jewellery
Electronics
Photography (AgBr)
Antimicrobial coatings
Currencies

Fun Fact

Silver has the highest electrical conductivity of any element — but copper is used in wiring because silver is too expensive!